If you often wake up with headaches, earaches, and a feeling of fatigue, something may be disrupting your sleep. Snoring and sleep apnea are often the culprits behind your rest being interrupted, but this could also be due to conditions like bruxism. Sunny Smiles Dentistry in El Paso, TX, can examine your concerns and help diagnose the problem so that you can rest better.
How Bruxism Can Affect Your Snooze
Our quality of sleep is just as important as the number of hours that we get. You may not be aware of it, but you could be grinding your teeth together at night, which can cause you to periodically wake up. Doing this infrequently may not be a serious issue, but it could become a problem if it becomes chronic. Bruxism may be caused by stress, misaligned teeth, or TMJ-related issues. When you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, the sounds or discomfort that these actions cause could wake you up. You may wake up in the morning with soreness around your jaw, irritability, and a feeling of tiredness.
Getting Treatment For Bruxism
In some cases, this condition may go away on its own. Decreasing your stress levels, fixing bite or alignment problems, and improving your nighttime routine may help. However, if your symptoms persist, it may be in your best interest to seek professional care. At your next checkup, you can discuss your concerns with your dentist. They can compare these symptoms to any indicators they may find after examining your oral cavity and diagnosing you. Many times, this disorder can be treated with the use of an oral appliance. By wearing this guard every night, you will protect your teeth from clenching together. This can help you sleep better, feel less pain in the morning, and keep your teeth protected from wear and tear.
Could My Problem Be Due To Snoring?
If you often wake up your family members due to your snoring, you should talk to your dentist about this as well. Snoring not only disrupts your sleep, but it can also affect your physical and dental health and may even be a sign of a worse condition. This loud breathing at night disrupts your ability to rest, can cause you to breathe with an open mouth, and may be a sign of sleep apnea. If changing your sleep position and pre-bedtime habits does not improve your snoring problem, talk to a professional. An oral appliance may also be able to help this condition by keeping your airways open.
Talk To Your Dentist Today
If you are experiencing these symptoms or more, your dentist may be able to help. To schedule an appointment with Sunny Smiles Family Dentistry in El Paso, TX, call us at 915.759.7000.